what gives VHT thier signature sound?

[diagrammatiks]

the p50e's are definitely a unique speaker but my fryette definitely still sounds like a fryette through my scumbacks. can really easily tell the difference between the slo and ul.

 

[stephen sawall]

Are we talking about Fryette amps ?

I think a large part of the sound is the transformers .... but obviously from my perspective it is influenced by the whole thing from input to sound wave at the other end.

 

[Mudder]

Weapons grade bolognium muffler bearings.

 

[Vrad]

It's hard to isolate what gives an amp it's particular sound. It could be something seemingly as trivial as a capacitor/resistor brand or voltage rating that impart a signature sound. When everything is added together, circuit/components etc.. you have a signature sound. So yeah.. hard to pin-point I would imagine.

 

[Sixtonoize]

how hard would it be to switch a Ultralead to LTP just for shits and grins?

That would be a ridiculous pain in the ass, to put it lightly.
The biggest problem is that VHT amps are all PCB, so you'd have to pretty much gut the PI board and build up something from scratch. Also, the UL has a 12AT7 driver that comes after the PI to match the impedance and provide a stronger current to drive the KT88s. It's a common HiFi technique, but as far as I know, the UL is the only guitar amp that does it.

As far as how it would sound, you've got absolutely no guarantees. If you keep the driver tube, you're running an LTP into a driver, and that would have its own tonal effect (which could be cool or completely suck). If you just bypass the driver tube, then you're running an LTP into a power stage with an input impedance that we haven't accounted for - and again, it could be cool or totally suck.

Either way, it's going to be a TON of work (and/or expense) with no guaranteed results...and no matter how it sounds, you're still hacking up a $3500 amp for shits n' giggles.

I think it's definitely a cool experiment, but if you're really interested in how it sounds, I'd just build my own amp and make the power section PTP - that way it's easy to change things and you can hack it all to hell without destroying an expensive-ass work of amplifier art. You might even be able to install a series of relays to let you switch between the various arrangements.

If you ever decide to go ahead with it, I'm all ears.

 

[Digital Jams]

I am sure you can lay out the circuits on a turret board but I do not think the work would be worth it as the gains would be minimal at best.

 

[Greazygeo]

I don't think alot of people can turn them up to the volume that they shine. They take awhile to warm up too.

 

[Sixtonoize]

Damn good point - my UL doesn't sound good at ALL at low volumes and sounds really damn good at band practice volumes, but it sounds F-ing AMAZING at just above ridiculous volumes.

It's almost like there's a switch built into the amp - once you hit that sweet spot on the master, it really comes alive.

 

[Digital Jams]

I don't think alot of people can turn them up to the volume that they shine. They take awhile to warm up too.

But it will make my wife mad due to MSB having early quiet hours

 

[Greazygeo]

I don't think alot of people can turn them up to the volume that they shine. They take awhile to warm up too.

But it will make my wife mad due to MSB having early quiet hours

Soundproof MSB!!!!

 

[midnightlaundry]

Not a lot of schematic info on these amps.

DO all KT88 powered Fryette amps have a Cathodyne PI?

 

[Bob Savage]

It’s the smoke encapsulaters.

 

[Marshall Freak]

I still say it's the PCB.

 

[DragonCrestPC]

I love my UL

 

[D-Rock]

My UL always sounded like itself no matter what cab, speakers or tubes I used with it.

 

[grooveHT]

Holy thread resuscitation, Batman!

 

[V2a]

I think they all use a local feedback circuit toward the end of the preamp that tightens up the low end and contributes to the 'dryness'

 

[RedB4Black]

...And here I thought Splawn had the market cornered on “weird mids”

 

[maddnotez]

Lol nice bump.

After reading the 8 year old replies I have to disagree with RAF. Their cabs are definitely unique as well but my VHT sounded like a VHT through many cabs and like others said was very noticeably VHT.

Also agree with the volume comment. I had a 100CL and man, when I put the master at 75% or more (I would usually max it out, 75% minimum) that is when it really shined.

I have had a few amps. My most recent that I loved was the Rev 2 BUT I really miss my Pitbull and playing many live shows I have never had more people commenting on my tone then when I was using the VHT.

 

[PeteLaramee]

other than thier PCB's having cool stuff printed on them, i don't think that's it?


and not the cabs or KT-88's. i've had allmost a half dozen VHT's, but never had a one of thier cabs.

I know this is an old thread, but...